Slinky Solution?

I have seen the future, and it bends. Washington has some articulated buses (“accordion” or “slinky” buses, named after the toy) but no biarticulated buses. Double-jointed biarticulated buses hold 200 people and snake along the streets and roads of other sprawling cities. They look like this:

And this:

Cool beans!

Biarticulated buses could be used in designated bus lanes on expressways so commuting drivers don’t freak out. This would substatially reduce traffic congestion at a reduced cost in fuel and labor. Perhaps bleachers could be placed in DC’s traffic circles so tourists could get good photos of these buses as they arc around.

There have been a few reports of slinky-bus passenger injuries but they appear to be due to operator error, and we all know Metro bus drivers have an outstanding safety record.

While there may be U.S. manufacturers of biarticulated buses, using Volvo or Mercedes slinky buses might remedy the most intractable issue of DC mass transit: getting middleclass people to use the bus.